Combined header and thresher.



PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908. F. S. HOLLBY & J. G. WHITFORD. -OOMBINED HEADER ANDTHRESHER.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-ID1903- /W/Ul/LMow.

No. 880,454. PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908. F. S. HOLLEY & J. C. WHITI'ORD. COMBINED HEADER AND THRESHER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.17, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

haw m Z rmm m am NN No. 880,454. PATENTED FEB. 25', 1908. F38. HOLLEY & J. a. WHITFORD. COMBINED HEADER AND THRESHER.

3 SHEETS APPLICATION FILED FEB.17, 1903.

147 s ew/5% VMW undulating, while the latter maintain at all UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, FRANK S. HOLLEY AND JOHN C WHITFORD, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO DANIEL BEST, OF SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

Application filed February 17. 1903- Scrial No. 143.853-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK S. HOLLEY and JOHN C. WHITFORD, citizens of the United States, and residents of Stockton, in the county'of San Joaquin and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Combined Headers and Threshers,'of which the following is,a specification.

This invention isan improvement in machines that cut, beat out, winnow, and sack grain in one continuous operation, and it particularly relates to the mechanism that combines and adjusts the grain-heading parts of such machines with and relatively to their grain-separating parts, so as to admit of the former being always disposed in parallelism with the lay of the ground, whether level or times their normal or vertical aspect. The means heretofore provided to accomplish these essential adjustments generally necessitated the shifting of the driving-wheels with relation to the thresher frame or to the machinery to be actuated by each of the driving-wheels, which accordingly twisted or slackened or otherwise disarranged the interrelated power-transmitting devices, caused an irregular wear and strain, and in other respects injuriously affected the harmony and action of the parts. In our improvement both the thresher and header owerwheels or driving-wheels ever remain ocally unchanged with relation each to its'particular mechanism functionally.

The accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts in the several figures, are integral herewith as a medium of illustration.

In these drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of one form of our improved machine, showing it in normal position on level ground; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, showing the machine adjusted for heading and threshing grain on a regular slope, up hill; Fig. 3 is a detail of the principal slant-adjusting mechanism embraced in 'the invention and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are diawhich our invention is chiefly concerned, are:

two driving-wheels, the left one of which is level ground ,an A-shaped frame D commonly known as the header A-frame, which frame D is mounted at its apex on the wheel D, and at its base is supported by the auxil iary frame B a sickle frame D suspended in the usual manner from the A-frame D a grain elevating spout E, hinged to the sickle,

frame D and arranged to deliver the grain to w the thresher through a feeder-house A; and

means, hereinafter described, for flexibly connecting the auxiliary frame B and header frame D to ether, and each of them separately with t e thresher frame A.

It will beseen at a glance, by referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, that in our 1rnproved'machine the thresher drivingwheel A is fixedly mounted and. axially j ournaled'in the thresher or separator foundation frame A", or a rigid extension thereof, and therefore must always be vertically arallel and immovable with relation to the odyof the separatorA On the other-hand, the header driving-wheel B, which also is a thresher supporting. associate of the Wheel A and likewise immovalile from its frame B is parallel with the forementioned wheel A and the se arator A only when the ground is level. n all other conditions or lay of ground the wheel B and frame B are rocked out of parallelism with the wheel A and se arator A by IlTGiiIlS 'of a vertically flexibe and adjustable connection (to l:.e ex-- plained later). Itwill also be olserved that on regular slopes, but then only, this wheel B and its companion header-supportin wheel or grainwheel D are parallel and 0th at right angles to the slantof the ground, that is, to the sickle-bar and its mounting frame D and further that the grain elevating spout E acts freely, flexibly, and automatically with relation both to the rain lied or platform and the feed box of the thresher,

with but little thrust, as will more clearly I and pinions with along interconnecting shaft appear below. The aforesaid frame of the driving-wheel B. comprises two arallel girders, marked B B and two end locks, respectively designated B and B The girders B B are disposedhorizontally and parallel with'the direction of locomotion of the wheel B, and between and u on them the wheel B is mounted and fixedly ournaled, by means of the boxing B B and t e axle B The blocks B B are secured to and at right angles across the said girders B B one to the front and the other to the rear of the wheel B. Owing to their position, these blocks appear in the plan, Fig. 1, as if they were continuations of transverse supporting beams A A of the separator, or slightly separated extensions thereof, but, in vertical aspect, the said blocks are on a line with the sald beams only when on level ground, which will be better understood by viewing the flexible connection therebetween, illustrated by Fig. 2. We have also shown a flexible connection between the header 'Aframe D and the right-hand girder 13*. These articulations of and with the'frame of the wheel B and their means and functions will presently be explained.

We effect the positive flexing of the wheel frame B and thresher frame A to accommodate slanting bottoms, by means of a rack and pinion device and associate mechanism. Segment-racks F F, toothed on the concave side and flanged laterally and outwardly from the convex side, are secured in upright position, one each to the end blocks B and B of the frame of the wheel B, at the ends thereof that are adjacent to theinner ends of the separator frame beams A A, res ectively, the flange of each rack affording t e means for bolting the same to its respective support. These racks F F are engaged by inions G G", which are carried by a reversi le rotary shaft H, mounted longitudinally of the thresher and journaled upon and across the said inner ends of the beams A and A". The arrangement is such that the shaft H is always parallel horizontally with the wheel A and practically also with the wheel B, and their direction of locomotion, and the pinions G G are always in mesh with the racks F F G with F and G with F, so that the rolling or revolving of the shaft H either way correspondingly actuates the said pinions and causes them to simultaneously move the said racks up or down, or, which amountsto the same, to travel together up or down these racks, thus changing the relative positions of -the thresher frame A and auxiliary frame B and rocking the header and thresher parts of the combined machine out of line vertically. We thereby maintain the thresher properly upright while allowing ,the header to follow the lay of the ground, as seen in Figs. 2, 4, 5,

and 6. And by providing two or more racks of the frames A and B relative to each other is further accomplished with greater ease by the rack and pinion construction or other flexing mechanism by arranging and distributing the weight of the thresher A and its auxiliary mechanism on thethresher frame A. so that the greater part of its weight is carried by its supporting wheel- A.- This likewise increasin its tractive power to be better utilized in t eoperation of the thresher and furthermore, a more important feature, it decreases the weight of the thresher resting on the auxiliary supporting frame B through the rack and pinion connection and reduces the amount of power required in elevating or depressing the flexibly connected side of the thresher frame and a quicker response. is insured when the power is thrown on, for operating the flexing mechanism.

To actuate the shaft H, inions G G and racks F F, we employ t e worm-gearing illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, which consists, as usual, of a worm-wheel J and worm K. The worm-wheel J is secured somewhat centrally on the shaft H, and the worm K is laced horizontally above them. This worm 1s a threaded portion of a short transverse shaft K which is journaled by its end that is towards the separator A upon a girder A",

which girder is secured to and across the top of the transverse beams A A, parallel to the side of the se arator frame A. At this end the shaft K is made to carry a fixed pinion K by means of which it can be revolved in either direction, and its middle ortion and other end are further sup orte and journaled, on opposite sides 0 the worm K, in the cap of a bearing J that practically incases the worm-wheel J and is securely fastened to the girder A, on the right thereof, as represented in Fig. 3. The bearing J it will be observed is designed to supply the worm-gearing with lubricant and to protect it more or less from sand and dust.

Upon op osite sides of the forenamed pinion K o the Worm-shaft K and in mesh therewith, we mount other pinions L M, each upon a separate arbor, L M ,L upon L andM upon M Like the Worm-shaft K the arbors L M*- are disposed horizontally and at right angles to the side of the separator. adjacent side timber of the separator frame They are journaled at one end to an gears shall be in mesh with each other.

A and at the other end to the aforementioned girder A. We also mount a gear, L M towards the end of each arbor, L M which is against the separator, L upon L and M upon M in such a way that tl ilelse e pinion M and gear M are keyed fast to their arbor M, while the pinion L and gear L are free to revolve upon their arbor L subject to be actuated b a revolving or transmission clutch L, whic latter is axially fixed upon the arbor L though free to be slid longitudinally thereon to admit of its being shifted to and from counter clutches L L", which are integral withthe pinion L and gear L respectively. Either the pinionL or the gear L can thus be clutched and the pinion K thereby revolved directly or indirectly in one direction or the other, at the will of the o erator, according as it is required to turn t e wormcaring either forward or rearward, "or, W ich is the same thing, according as it is re uired to accommodate the combined mac inc to an ascending or a descending slant, or to varying slants. This clutching device,-being already known, will not be specifically claimed herein and needs no further description. The arbor L is the power shaft to the mechanism just described the arbor M is but incidently supplemental. As the machine is being drawn or propolled over the ground, the said arbor L is ept continuousl running by means of beltgearing N from t e c linder-shaft, N as indicated in Fig. 1. his is our preferred arrangement, although motion -may be imparted to the arbor L in various other ways.

As further shown in Fi 1, the beforementioned cylinder-shaft 2 is driven by a pinion and internal gear device 0, from a countershaft 0? (known as the jack-shaft), which is located transversely of the frame A forward and to the left of the se arator A and itself receives .its'motion t rough sprocket-wheels P P and a chain P", from a similarly dis osed counter-shaft P on the rear of the sai frame A shaft has a spring-pressed clutch P feathered on it and also carries a loose sprocket-wheel P adapted to be engaged thereby, which loose s rocket-wheel is connected by a chain P wit another sprocket-wheel P that is bolted to the spokes of the driving-wheel A, so that the said loose s rocket-wheel will always be revolving w en the machine moves, but the said shaft P will run only when allowed to be in clutch therewith. The same shaft P carries a fixed sprocket-Wheel P, which shares its intermittent motion and rest and is utilized to drive the machinery of the thresher, through a suitable chain and other gears (not shown). The drivingwheel A, it will now be seen, furnishes the power both to operate the thresher machinery and to flex the connection between The last named the thresher frame A and the supplemental frame B that is, to tilt one of these frames with relation to the other as needed, through the gearing and allied instrumentalities so far mentioned.

Power to actuate the header machinery is derived from the driving wheel B, and is transmitted by a sprocket-wheel Qbolted to the spokes thereof and connecting by a chain Q with a loose sprocket-wheel Q which latter is mounted on a shaft Q" having a springpressed slidable clutch Q on it and also carrying a fixed sprocket-wheel Q,these gears being and operating substantially the 'same as those provided for the thresher machinery and just described, save that they are borne entirely by the said wheel B and its frame.

In order to retain the thresher frame A and wheel frame B positively invertical' at their other ends, the said tie-bars are pivoted to the colr s onding cross beams A A of the thresher ame, about opposite the driving-wheel A, Y by pivots It. The strong bolting of the bars R R to the ends of the .frameB it will be seen, always maintains the wheel B fixed as a tangent to an imaginary movable arc of which the center is on a line joining the said pivots R. The distance between these pivots and the segmentracks F F is in each case the radius of thehinge relation of the frames A and B and determines the curvature and direction of eachirack.

It is now clear that, this radius being quite long and the rack approximately straight and upright, and the grain elevating spout E being hinged to the sickle frame D of theheader, which is tilted coincidentl with the wheel frame B and its wheel the influence of fiexion upon the thrust of the said spout will be but slight. As shown, the bars R R pass below the thresher and are bent so that they may not come in contact with the bottom of the thresher frame on upwardlytrending inclines.

As before stated, the headerrframe D also is flexibly connected, at its base, to the auxiliary frame B, by a loose hinge or pivot S, hereafter more particularly described.

The frame D is attached rearwardly, as shown, b one end of its rear member to the upper si e of the right girder of the frame B by the hinge or pivot S, and forwardly the corresponding end of its front member groun frame B when meeting sudden irregularities in the field, such as irregular depressions and other similar conditions of surface. The connection, it will be observed, in no way interferes with the rocking of the auxiliary frame B on the pivots of its tie-bars R R about the thresher frame A and allows the header A-frame D and thereto attached.

sickle frame D to remainpractically in exact (parallelism with the surface of the at all times and thus always accommodate the sickle-bar to the trend of the ground, as is readily inferred from the several figures of the drawings. The latter named frame (D is held up as usual, in its position-in front of the frame D by a suitable number of arms D which are pivoted or hinged to the under side of D, and by a weighted lever D 'f ulcrumed on the upper side of D The spout E is-hi'nged at its lower end to the frame D by means of a hinge rod' E while its upper end rests upon the sill of and.

discharges the headed grain into the feederhouse A", in a manner that is well known. Now, it is understood that when the header is tilted or thrown into an inclined position relatively to the thresher, which latter must always be kept in a vertical position, the said upper end of the spo'utwould be moved in or out of the feeder-house, according as the header may be inclined upward or downward, if means were not taken to revent it. We have found that by loosely inging the header, through its A-frame D, to the supplemental frame B at one point and loosel mounting itthereon at another point, as

ereinbefore described, and then providing a suitable connection between the loosely. mounted portion of the said A-frame and the adjacent side of the thresher,

the header and its connected spout E: can.

be swung or forced back the roper dis tance on the loose hinge when ti ted toward the thresher, and likewise swung or .drawn in when inclined the opposite way. So that, when the header is inclined upwardly, the said connection of the A-frame with the thresher will operate to push away J the header and spout and thereby overcome the tendency of the latter being thrust too far into the feeder-house, and, on the other hand, when the header is inclined downward, the same connection will act so as to draw the header and spout forward and thus.

complish this by flexibly connecting the A-frame rearwardly with the frame of the wheel B through the medium of the loose hinge or 'pivot before mentioned and marked S, and by attaching the saidA-frame forwardly to the thresher frame A through the instrumentality of a draw-bar T, which is pivotally secured at one end to the aforesaid loose portion of the A-frame as at T and is also pivotally connected at the other end to the side of the said thresher frame by a bolt T engaging a bracket T. This bracket is refera 1y slotted vertically so that the ho t or pivot T of the thereto connected draw-bar can move freely from the top to the bottom of the slot thereof, which slot is designated '1 and is preferably curved so that its ends will approach the side of the thresher and thereby facilitate the movement of the pivot of the draw-bar and add to the effectiveness of the machine.

It will be seen that when the wheel D is above the level, the pivot T will occupy the upper portion of the slot as shown in Fi s. 2, 4,'and 5, and when D is below the level, T will occupy the lower portion of the slot, as indicated in Fig. 6 (and also by dotted lines in Fig. 4), but in either position, as well as in the normal or level position in which the pivot will stand at or about the middle, the movement or change will be automatic. -In this manner the end of the spout is automatically held at all times in substantially the same position relatively to the feederhouse, regardless of the flexing of the two parts of the machine. The'knuckle of the inge S is belled out, as indicated by dotted lines in'Fig. 1, to give it sufficient play on its in or bolt S to prevent the forward and ackward movement of the outer end of the header from binding the same, and thereb causing the parts to break or move with great friction, when the header and thresher are flexedrelatively to each other and the draW-banpushes or pulls on the A-frame and swings it on the hinge S to maintain the spout. in proper position, as above described. While wehave shown what we consider the most desirable form and means of constructing our. machine, it is evident that changes and variations may be made in its different parts, and therefore we reserve the nection to said inclinable support, means for flexibly connecting the thresher to said auxiliary and inclinable support, and means for holding the thresher in a vertical position while the auxiliary and inclinable support and header may be adjusted to the trend of the ground.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a header, a thresher, an auxiliary and inclinable support between said header and thresher and having a separate and independent carrying means, and means for properly and flexibly holding the inner'end of the headerand the adjacent end of the thresher on said auxiliary support.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a header, a thresher frame, an auxiliary and intermediate support having an independent carrying wheel or support, means for flexibly connecting said intermediate support, with both the header and thresher frame, and meansfor elevating or depressing the inner side of said thresher frame. v

4. A machine of the character described comprising a thresher, a header, an auxiliary and intermediate frame for supporting both the thresher and the header and having an independent carrying wheel or support, and flexible connections joining the thresher and the headereach with said support and separately with each other.

5. A,machine of the character described comprising a header, a thresher, an auxiliar and intermediate support between and flexibly connectedto the said header and thresher, said thresher and intermediate support each .having an independent supporting or carrying means which operate independently and respectively the mechanism of the thresher and header.

6.-A machine of thecharacter described comprising aheader', a thresher, an auxiliary and intermediate support between and flexibly connected to said header and thresher, said thresher and intermediate support having independent supporting or carrying means which operate independently and re-.

spectively the mechanism of the thresher and header, and means for adjusting the flexible connections between said intermediate'suport and thresher, whereby the thresher will be supported in a substantially vertical position and the header adjusted to the trend of the ground. x

7. A machine of the character described comprising a header, a thresher, an auxiliary and intermediate support between and flexibly connected to said header and thresher, said thresher and intermediate support having independent supporting, or I ca ing means which operate independently an re-' spectively the mechanism of the thresher and header, and means for adjusting the flexible connections between the said auxiliary support and thresher by being thrown into engagemerit with the operating-mechanism of the thresher. I

8. A machine of the character described comprising'a header, a thresher, means for supporting the header at its outer end and. the thresher at. a point op osite, an interthresher framesfsaid auxiliary and thresher. mediateauxiliary support aving an hide I the thresher pendent carrying means, and means for flexily connecting said support to the side of the thresher remote from it. v I

9. A machine of the class described comprising a header, a, thresher, means for supporting the thresher at a point laterally to the line of draft and the header atits outer.

end, an intermediate wheeled sulpport auxiliary to both the header and the. t resher, and

\ means for flexibly connectin the header and each with sai auxiliary sup-i port.

prising a header, a thresher, means for sup- 10. Amachine of the class described com- I porting the thresher at a point laterally to the line of draft, means for su porting the header at its outer end, an aux' iary sup rt intermediate of said sup orting means ot the header and thresher, joining the header and the thresher to oppo site sides of said auxiliar support, and means for movingv the auxi iary su port in the arc of a circle relatively to the t hresher.

11. A machine of the class described comrising a header, a thresher, an auxiliary fiame between 'said' header and thresher andflexibly connected thereto, means for supporting the said header, thresher and frame at three points ina vertical plane substantially at right angles to the line of draft, all three su ports bein in alinement on level grbund, but movab e vertically out of said alinement on irregular surfaces.

exible connections 12. A machine of the class described com- A prising a header, a thresher, three wheels "arranged substantially in axial alinement,

two 0 which are movable vertically with relation to the other one, said other wheel and one of the two movable wheels being drivingwheels, and means for positively moving the middle driving' wheel vertically in the arc of a circle relatively to the other drivingwheel.

13. A machine of the character described I comprising a header frame, a thresher frame, an auxlllary suppprting frame interposed prising a header frame, a thresher frame, an

auxiliary frame interposed between and flexibly connected to each of the header and frames having independent supporting or" nected frames and means for connecting the movement 'of the su porting or carrying wheel of the thresher ame to the said flexing mechanism.

17. A machine of the character described comprising a header frame, a thresher frame, an auxiliar sup orting frame interposed between a flexib y connected to each of the header and thresher frames, a flexing mechanism connected to the auxiliary sup orting and thresher frames at two points with separate operating mechanisms, a supporting or carrying wheel for each of the three flexibly,

connected frames, and means for connecting the movement of the supportin or carryingwheel of the thresher frame to t e operating mechanism of said flexing mechanism.

18. A machine of the character described comprising a header frame, a thresher frame, an auxiliary supporting frame interposed between and flexibly connected to each of the header and thresher frames, a flexing mechanism connected to the auxiliary sup orting and thresher frames at two points with separate operating mechanisms, a supporting or carrying wheel for each of the three flexibly connected frames, means for connecting the movement of the su porting or carrying wheel of the thresher fi 'ame to the operatin mechanism of said flexing mechanism, am means for simultaneously applying equal power to the two separated o crating mech v anisms to flex said header an auxiliary supporting frames.

1 9. A machine of the character described comprising a header frame, a thresher frame, an auxiliary supporting frame interposed between the header and thresher frames and flexibly connected to the thresher frame, one.

1' comprising a header frame, a thresher frame, an auxiliary sup ortin frame interposed beone of said frames having a rack near each rotate it in either direction.

21. A machine of the character described comprising a header frame, a thresher frame, an auxiliary supporting frame interposed between said header and thresher frames and fl'e'xibly connected to the thresher frame, one of the said auxiliarysup orting or thresher frames beingprovided wit pinions fixed to a rotary shaft havingbearin s at its ends and the other with curved rac the pinions, aworm. ear for'rotating the shaft and injons in either direction, anda combined lubricating box and dust guard surrounding the said worm gear and formand pinions. p

22. A machine of the character described comprising a header frame, a thresher frame between and, flexi ly connected to each of: the header and thresher frames, a flexing mechanism connected to the auxiliaryv sup porting and thresher frames, consisting .of a rota shaft on one of the flexibly connected auxillary or thresher frames, said shaft provided with a pinion at' one end and a worm at the-other, a rack on the other of the flexibly connected frames, means for engaging with said rack and said worm respectively, and reversible driving means for engaging said'pinion.

' 23. A.machine ofthe character described comprising a header frame, a thresher frame, an auxiliary sup orting frame interposed between and flexibly connected to each. of the header and thresher frames, the thresher frame having a shaft journaled parallel with the line of draft and having a fixed pinion at each end thereof, said auxiliar support curve racks attached thereto and in engagment with the pinions of the thresher frame and meansfor applyingpower to the journaled shaft to rotate t e same in either direction.

' 24. A machineof the class described com-' prising a header frame, a thresher frame, an

engaged by.

g abearing for the shaft of said worm gear frame having 'two vertica and.

an auxiliary sup orting frame interposed auxiliary supporting frame inter osed between and flexibly connected to. t e header and thresher frames, means for flexing said auxiliary and thresher frames, worm gear-.

ing for operating said flexing means and pro vided with a inion, two shafts journaled u on odposite sides of said pinion, each of who 1s provided with two gear wheielstwo ofsaid wheels intermeshing and theother two engagin with said pinion, the wheels on one of,

said s afts being loosely mounted and each provided with a clutch member, and a laterally movable double clutch mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith in position to one of them.

' gag 25. A machine of the class described comprising a header frame, a thresher frame, an

auxiliary supporting frame inter osed: be-

tween and flexibly connected to t e header and thresher frames, means for flexing said frames of the auxiliary support and thresher; said means being rovided with reversing mechanism, a thres er provided with a rotary cylinder and supported on the thresher frame, and means for connecting the cylinder of the thresher with the reversing mechanism and thereby operatin the flexing means.

26. A machine of the c ass described-comprising a header frame, a thresher frame, an auxiliary supporting frame interposed. between and flexibly connected to t e header and thresher frames, each of the auxiliary supporting and thresher frames provided wit a. supporting wheel, and means for holding one of said wheels at all times in a plane at a tangent to a-circle whose center 1s the pivotal point between said auxillary and thresher',frame's.

27. A machine of the class described comprising a header frame, a thresher frame, an auxiliary supporting frame inter osed between and flexibly connected to t 'e header and thresher frames, each of said auxiliary supporting and thresher frames provided with a supportin wheel and oneof them being provided with segmental racks, each rack being at a distance from the pivoted point between the auxiliary and thresher frames e ual to' the radius of-the circle of which it orms an arc, and pinions for eng with said'rack on the other frame and flexing the frames. v

28. A machine of the class described comv prising a'header frame, an auxiliary frame, a thresher frame, said auxiliary frame being 4 provided w ith two bars rigidly secured thereto at one end and pivotally secured to the e other end, segmental racks on said auxiliary frame, each at a distance from the pivotal point'of one of, said bars e ual to the radius of the circle of which the rac forms an arc, and pinions for engaging" with said racks.

29. A machine of the class. described comprising a header frame, a'thresher frame, an

auxiliary supporting frame interposed between and flexibly connected with the header and thresher frames, the auxiliary support- 30. In acombined header and'thresher, a

thresher frame, an auxiliary frame flexibly connected therewith, means for moving said auxiliary frame vertically with relation to the thresher frame, a header frame, and means for ivotally connecting one portion of the hea er frame to the auxiliary frame andanother portion to the thresher frame. 31. In a combined header and thresher, a thresher frame, an auxiliaryframe therefor, means for flexin said frames relatively to each other, a hea er frame flexibly connected with said auxiliary frame at the rear and loosely mounted thereon in front, and means for pivotally connecting the header frame with thethresher frame adjacent to said loose mounting.

32. In a combined thresher frame and auxiliary frame therefor flexibly connected with each other, means for positively flexing said frames, a header frame pivotally secured to said auxiliary frame at one oint and loosely mounted thereon at anot er point, a bracket on the thresher frame, and a draw-bar pivotally secured at one end to the header frame adjacent to its loose mounting and also pivotally connected with said bracket at the other end.

33. A thresher and a header flexibly connected with each other rearwardly, the

thresher being provided with a feed box at a suitable point forward and the header with a delivery spout extending into said box, means for tilting the two parts of the machine relatively one to the other, and hitching meansacting to pull or push the spout to or away from the feed box according to the way 'sald parts are tilted.

34. .A machine of the character described comprising a header, a thresher frame having a support, an-auxiliary frame interposed between the header and thresher frame and having an independent carrying wheel, the auxiliary frame supporting both the header and thresher frame, and a flexible connection betweensaid' thresher frame and auxiliary frame.-

35. A machine of the. character described comprising a header having an outer supporting wheel, a thresher frame having a supporting wheel, an auxiliary frame interheader and thresher, a

frame, and a flexible connection between said thresher frame and auxiliary frame.

36. machine of the character described comprising a header, a thresher frame havingva supporting Wheel carrying most of the ent carrying wheel, the auxiliary frame carrying wheel partially supporting the header and the thresher, a flexible connection beand the Weight of the thresher mechanism, tween the auxiliary and-thresher frames and a flexible connection between the auxiliary means for varying said flexible connection. and thresher frames, means for varying the 37. A machine of'the character described flexible connection, and means for connect-'15 comprising a header, a thresher frame having the movement of the thresher frame ing a sup ortin wheel carrying most of the weight 0 the t resher mechanism, an auxiliary frame interposed between the header and thresher frame and having an independentcarr 'ng wheel, the auxiliary frame carrying W eel partially supporting the header supporting Wheel to the said varying means.

FRANK S. HOLLEY. [L. s.] JOHN C. WHITFORD. [L. s.] Witnesses:

E. B. STOWE, NoNIE BURKE. 

